Introducing AAC and AT to Adults with Acquired Disabilities

92 Pages·2008·2.15 MB·English

Introducing AAC and AT
to Adults with Acquired
Disabilities
Sarah Blackstone,
Augmentative Communication Inc.
Janet Scott,
SCTCI
Steven Bloch,
University College London
Special acknowledgments: David R. Beukelman,
Sarah Yong, Laura Ball, Melanie Fried Oken
11/3/2008 1
Some resources
University of Nebraska website -

http://aac.unl.edu
Books, aphasia resources, visual scene display

resources, demographics, Speech Intelligibility
test
Augmentative Communication Strategies for

Adults with Acute or Chronic Medical
Conditions Book with CD Rom
AAC-RERC website - www.aac-rerc.com

and webcasts
Medicare assessment protocol

11/3/2008 2
Overview
Unique characteristics of adults

with acquired disabilities
What we know/don’t know about

different populations
What we do…assessment and

treatment considerations
Case examples

What’s in the pipeline

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UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS
The shock!

Capacities and preferences

Variability across disability groups (ALS,

TBI, aphasia, brainstem stroke, multiple
sclerosis, etc.)
Ongoing desire to use residual speech

Acceptance and use of AAC and AT

Changing living situations, activities and

supports
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Challenges
Functional limitations

Reactions to becoming disabled

Acquired conditions

Degenerative conditions

End of life issues

Building capacity and maintaining

supports
Integrating AAC/AT into daily life

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Medical issues and
management of care
Planning for today

Preparing for the future

Decision-making processes

Preferences, priorities & capacities

of individual and family
Living situation (stable/changing)

Resources

Access issues: not only to

equipment but also to community
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Across the Continuum
of Health Care
Acute Care/ICUs

Inpatient Rehabilitation

Outpatient Rehabilitation

Extended care and Home health

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Social Networks
Well established, but often shrink after

disability
Condition also impact social networks of

spouse/family members
Influences AAC/AT decision-making

process
Contexts within which communication

occurs
Modes

Range of partners

Range of topics

Capacities and preferences of interactants

11/3/2008 8
Continuum of AAC strategies from
natural speech to aids
Natural strategies:

Speech, gestures

Speaking in “breath groups”

Sign language, eye gaze, facial expressions

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Nonelectronic aids and speech:

Relying on handwriting

Pointing to an alphabet board for first letters while

speaking
Nonelectronic aids:

Alphabet and phrase boards

Communication books, wallets, photo albums

Electronic aids:

Adapted computers

Speech generating devices

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